MPs debate reliability of ECML wiring

Rail Minister Paul Maynard has met Network Rail’s London North Eastern and East Midlands Route Managing Director Rob McIntosh, to discuss ways to improve reliability of the East Coast Main Line’s overhead line electrification.

Maynard confirmed the meeting in a House of Commons Transport debate on March 30. He was replying to Rachael Maskell (Labour/Co-op, York Central), who had asked about the “urgent renewal” needed for the ECML’s wires.

Maskell had asked: “We already know that there is six times higher spend in the South than in the North on rail and transport infrastructure, but we also seem to have an east-west divide in rail - the East Coast route has received £3 billion less than that of the West. Will the Government bring forward their funding to upgrade the East Coast Main Line infrastructure, since the passenger performance measure is now at 25.1% because of overhead line failure?”

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The WCML north of Crewe was wired in the mid 70's in the same way as the photo. Cable supporting cable. Cheap and cheerful. When/if they put steel supports across they can do away with the first 6 foot or so of the uprights maybe more.